Three things most people don’t realize about wetlands:

Field observations from the intersection of sediment science, environmental health, and climate resilience — where small particles reveal big environmental stories.

Last Week, I had the privilege of heading into the field with Dr. Edward Lo and Clara Ray to Clarks Hill Lake — also known as Lake Strom Thurmond — in the Southeastern United States.

Yesterday, at the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability (SEES) Georgia Southern University , Dr. David C. Weindorf delivered a seminar titled “Romanian Soil Science Research: A Transylvanian Journey.” What unfolded was more than a research presentation, it was a reflection on time, responsibility, and what long-term environmental science truly looks like.

The plan was simple.

In environmental and geochemical research, some of the most consequential actions are also the least visible. Long before results are published or policy decisions are informed, the integrity of our work is shaped by seemingly small laboratory practices—often overlooked, rarely celebrated, but absolutely essential.

Late-night soil cores in Kentucky. A reminder that water quality, public health, and environmental justice often begin below ground. Big thanks to the University of Kentucky for their lab support!

As the year closes, I find myself reflecting on a truth that fieldwork teaches early and often:

A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Friedman and the Scientists Exploring the Deep History of Our Oceans

Sediments are more than sand and mud; they are geologic archives that capture tectonics, climate, and human-environment interactions.